SANFORD, Fla. — WFTV found out Wednesday that thousands of tax dollars meant for Sanford's troubled public housing were instead spent on cross-country trips, hotels and restaurant lunches. While the executive director of the Sanford Housing Authority and two co-workers were charging on corporate credit cards, big bills weren't getting paid.
WFTV has already reported the agency was three-quarters of a million dollars behind on its bills, which included not paying huge water expenses to the city and smaller fees to contractors. The credit card records that WFTV obtained show more irresponsible behavior, such as hundreds of dollars in late fees and overdrafts because someone wasn't keeping up the payments.
The housing director was doing a lot of traveling away from the housing he's supposed to supervise. So, what he was doing on those trips? He claims they were all work-related trips he made to either fundraise for the housing authority or attend conferences.
READ: Sanford Housing Authority's Response
Some charges, like ones to Home Depot, are easy to understand. But others raise questions, especially for an authority as cash-strapped as this one.
While Sanford Housing Authority residents were living in low-income homes, Director Angel Tua was spending more than $750 at a Marriott resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on the taxpayers' dime for a workshop. In Portland, Oregon, he charged more than $1,000 for a hotel and rental car at a housing conference.
"They don't need to be traveling the country. They need to be here with those funds, helping us and getting this place fixed," housing resident Tisa Washington said.
For the first time since serious financial problems came to light, WFTV got a look at every American Express purchase that Tua and two deputies made during 2009. They racked up more than $61,000 in charges. About $23,000 was related to out-of-town travel, including many nights in Washington D.C. The authority says much travel was focused on seeking new funding.
Unlike those of us who might pack a lunch for work, it seems Tua and his staff ate out often. The three charged more than $2,000 at restaurants like Lee's Famous Recipe Country Chicken and Hungry Howies. There were also hundreds in other expenses like car washes and car repairs. As with the meals, the authority gave no explanation.
"It could be going to good use around here," Washington said.
The authority said Wednesday that debt crept up on it last year and is being corrected. The hundreds of dollars in late fees that WFTV found on the big credit card bills couldn't help.
The chair of the authority board declined comment until she can further review the spending. However, the Sanford Housing Authority did provide a response to WFTV reporter George Spencer (read statement) .
HUD is still in the middle of a top-to-bottom review.
WFTV
